Simply Marvelous BBQ: ADSUM Education Foundation

Left Coast Q: Horses Helping to Heal

Grills Gone Wild Iowa: Kossuth County C.A.R.E. Team

The letters in C.A.R.E. stand for Child Assistance Resource Education. They provide assistance with: children's back to school backpacks, Lovings Hands Nursery to provide daycare for an hour or two, money for medical prescriptions for children, gas money for doctors appointments, Guardian Angels Program, Taco For Tots, week of YMCA camp, clothing and beds, and many other programs. Their goal is to provide for children less fortunate. Grills Gone Wild Iowa chose this charity because they are locally based and they had heard about their many successes. Every year, they reach out to many children in the community, helping 907 in 2013 alone. Grills Gone Wild believes that a community that invests in families will see the reward as more children grow up to reach their full potential.
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Pig Skin BBQ: Child Find of America

Pig Skin BBQ is competing for Child Find of America because it has a great mission statement and has consistently received an A+ rating. A donation to this organization can help bring a child home or keep a child safe.

TippyCanoe BBQ Crew: UNI Adapted Sports Camp

Our 10 year old nephew was born with Spina Bifida and is wheelchair bound as a result. He has participated in the Adapted Sports Camps held at the University of Northern Iowa and had great experiences.

Big T'z Q Cru: Raising Readers

Their mission is to "improve language and literacy development in children from birth to age 8 and nurture healthy parent-child relationships." They provide free books to all children of need in our area, and provide programs to enrich the literacy development of young children throughout the region. As a parent and former educator, I understand how crucial early language development is for all children. That is why I have chosen them to be the benefactor of any BPS Elite TOY awards we receive.

Lucky's Q: Children's Cancer Connection out of Des Moines

Iowa's Smokey D's BBQ: JDRF of Greater Iowa

JDRF is a very special charity to us. Our daughter Haley was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes at the age of 11 and through the help of JDRF and it's efforts she's now 22 yrs old and lives a normal life. We strive to find a cure for this disease that effects millions of people every year. JDRF not only provides money for research, but also helps with support of newly diagnosed kids and their families.

Little Pig Town: Bit By Bit

Since opening in 1997, Bit by Bit has been and continues to be Northeast Oklahoma's premier therapeutic riding program. Founded by Linda Barron and originally located on the campus of Rogers State University in Claremore, Bit by Bit began as a way to make a difference in the lives of individuals with special needs through equine therapy. Over the years, the program has relocated to Oologah and expanded to serve over 70 students, offering therapeutic riding lessons to children living with a variety of special needs. One thing hasn't changed: the commitment to making a difference in riders' lives. This is possible thanks to over 150 volunteers, nearly 20 horses, and generous support from donors. Together, we make strides for those with special needs!

Gilly's BBQ: St. John's Children's Hospital

The reason I like St. John's Children's Hospital is because it is in my community and you can visit and see the real things that are happening right now and I was born there. They are in constant need of small things in the playroom that make a child smile and feel more at home. I hope I can have success with the elite team to help provide these things.

Swiggin' Pig: Variety Children's Charities of Memphis

Swiggin' Pig has chosen Variety Children's Charities of Memphis because of their efforts in helping children all over the mid south and also for supporting BBQ.

Swamp Boys: KidsPack USA

Swamp Boys will be competing for a local children's charity called kidsPack USA (http://www.kidspack.org/). They provide a backpack to select children on Fridays filled with simple to prepare food for them to eat over the weekends. Unfortunately too many families rely on the free breakfast and lunch at school as the only food their children get. KidsPack works to bridge the gap for weekends, as well as holidays and other breaks from school including summer. Swamp Boys has donated to them in the past and I feel they are providing a great service for our community. Some of the children I teach benefit from the KidsPack program.

3 Eyz BBQ: Believe in Tomorrow's Children Foundation

We are competing for Believe in Tomorrow's Children Foundation. A good friend of ours and a fantastic cook in his own right, Dillon Booth, has had some struggles through life. This is one of the foundations that has helped him and his family, so we are honored at the chance to give back through the BPS Elite program.

About

The BPS Elite Team is a brand ambassador program that is based off of
three things:
BBQ, camaraderie, and children's charities.

With the number of top BBQ cooks switching to Big Poppa's rubs, Sterling Ball (aka Big Poppa) felt the need to make the collaboration official during the start of the 2013 BBQ competition season.
This is not the typical endorsement deal: the BPS Elite Program is considered a relationship first and a sponsorship second. Each team is comprised of great pit masters and competitors; there are no contracts or payouts involved with these teams.

Through their mutual love of BBQ, Big Poppa and the BPS Elite Teams are also dedicated to bettering the lives of children in their own communities. From coast to coast, each BPS Elite team has chosen a children's charity to compete for. Starting with $1,000 from Big Poppa, each team also has the potential to win an extra $5,000 for taking, "Overall GC," at the end of the season. They can also win an extra $2,500 for first place in any of the four meat categories at the end of the season. All points are tallied in early January, and Big Poppa Smokers puts up the money as part of the sponsorship program; issuing the donations on behalf of the Elite Teams.

With each team competing for the top spot, all points are tallied using KCBS standings, and are updated weekly on the BPS Elite points race website at
http://elite.bigpoppasmokers.com/. Each team must also have certain credentials to participate in this program, including but not limited to: using at least two BPS rubs in their recipes, geographical coverage, and willingness to talk about which rubs they use for competition. Outside of being one of the nicest groups of people you will ever meet, the BPS Elite teams have been earning multiple GCs, RGCs, 180 scores, and category firsts across America.

Stop by and say hello if you happen to see a BPS Elite EZ-Up or Trailer at your next BBQ competition, and be sure to ask the team which charity they're competing for!